Restaurants in Hilo
Loading...
Best Restaurants
“We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and the dining experience was outstanding! The food was flavorful, delicious and looked like a piece of art. The live music added to the fine dining experience. To top off the evening the desserts were rich and yummy-but the "Wow" factor was the coffee we ordered served in a french press coffee maker! We will be back and bring our friends and family!”
“Visiting the big Island, stopped at this restaurant because the recommendations on line. I must say it was the absolute best dinner we have had in Honolulu and here in the big island. Food is superb, service fabulous. If you like well executed dishes, fresh, exquisite and plated beautifully, this is the place!!!”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“Cute location! Love their dishes! Desserts are also ono! Would eat here as often as I can…”
Restaurants with Delivery
“Visiting the big Island, stopped at this restaurant because the recommendations on line. I must say it was the absolute best dinner we have had in Honolulu and here in the big island. Food is superb, service fabulous. If you like well executed dishes, fresh, exquisite and plated beautifully, this is the place!!!”
“Antics ROCKS! Artwork throughout. Scrumptious pizza. My favorites are the slices, which are perfect for solitary diners stopping in for lunch or dinner but unable to take a whole pizza home for later. But they also offer carryout and dine-in for whole pizzas. And birthday-party/graduation/ho'olaulea (celebrations) accommodations. Staff are superb, checking to make sure you're doing okay. And kids adore the games (free, with purchase). Amazing Antics opened DURING the pandemic & has succeeded so well! One of my favorite places to eat, especially because slices are quick & fit within my limited budget. Well-done, Antics ownership, staff, leaders and lenders! 💚”
“Food is absolutely delicious and fresh. We can't say how convenient it was to make a phone order and have it ready to go when you pick it up. Everyone there has a welcome mentality and work so hard to make sure they got your order correctly.
Aloha, you guys rock!!!!”
“I have consistently had positive experiences here, and it has long been one of my favorite spots on the island. Until this evening, I would not have had any negative feedback to share. Despite my experience tonight, I won’t rate this business poorly because I believe in the business, have always had great experiences with other staff members, and wish the owner success!
It was my first time being served by Sarah and while her attentiveness decreased as the bar became busier, we still received assistance from another server and ultimately had a good overall dining experience. We settled our tab in full and left a 20% tip.
As we were leaving, Sarah called out across the bar asking whether we had paid our tab. Her tone felt accusatory, and the question was asked loudly enough for other patrons to hear. Because we had already paid, the public nature of the question felt embarrassing and uncomfortable. A more discreet or private approach would have been more appropriate.
I briefly returned to provide my name, as I am not someone who would leave without paying. When I expressed how the situation made us feel, the response given was that “people walk out on their tabs all the time.” While that may be true, it did not address the concern about how the situation was handled.
As trans people of color, experiences like this can feel especially charged. Regardless of intent, the interaction left us feeling singled out and embarrassed. My hope is that in the future, situations like this are handled more discreetly and thoughtfully.”
“Took long to get seated - table waiting system was a little weird. Nothing outrageous abt the service, its just that it took long to get knives/plates. Food is good tho, servers are friendly too”
Online Reservation Available
“We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and the dining experience was outstanding! The food was flavorful, delicious and looked like a piece of art. The live music added to the fine dining experience. To top off the evening the desserts were rich and yummy-but the "Wow" factor was the coffee we ordered served in a french press coffee maker! We will be back and bring our friends and family!”
“We were looking for something homey and warm to eat after a long arduous touring and traveling. We found this cute little family owned restaurant. Right when I entered, I immediately knew it was going to be good as the pho aroma hit our faces. We ordered the combination and it was one of the best food we ate on the island. Will come back on our next trip.”
“Food 4/5 - Ordered a sakura boat and unagi don. The sashimi/nigiri in the sakura boat was high quality and fresh, as the texture was soft with no hints of being frozen. The roll was good, nothing to write home about. Unagi don was good, although slices for the unagi were on the thinner side. Miso soup was nice and hot.
Service 3/5 - Service is average, they did make a round to refill our drinks.
Atmosphere 4/5 - Interior is good with Japanese themed decor.
Overall - Had a pleasant experience and would visit again.”
“Had lunch here 2/3 days that we were in Hilo, everything was amazing. The Misoyaki Butterfish Salad was fresh and extremely flavorful without being heavy, and the fish melts like butter in your mouth. We also had a cold water scallop special, an eggplant /marinara/pesto/ricotta appetizer (forgot what it's called, oops!) and crab cakes. Everything was great, honestly one of the best places I've eaten at on the entire island. I like to sit at the bar, as I'm a former long time bartender. Sascha is one of the best around, cocktails were, again, among the best that I found on the island, including Kona. Service was top notch, no matter how busy he got, and he took extra time to modify one of the house cocktails so that an elderly gal with sensitive teeth sitting nearby could enjoy it. I would honestly make the drive from Waikoloa just for this, but Hilo has plenty of outdoor activities to offer as well.”
“We were looking for Chinese food on Chinese New Year 2/17/26 and landed at Ocean Front Kitchen. We ordered teriyaki beef and fried mahi combo, eggplants with tofu, house crispy noodles which came with shrimp, chicken, cha shu and vegetables. All were delicious and came in generous portion. The owners were really friendly and helpful. It was a great find on Chinese New Year day. Go there if you want to eat like locals for some tasty authentic Chinese food.”
“10/12/2024
Hawaii's BBQ Deli
111 E Puainako St Unit 570
Hilo, HI 96720
It's a stall in the Puainako Shopping Center. Aside from that I had a good bowl of vegetable saimin there. There is a menu board above the order counter where I placed my order with the attendant. She later brought it to me at my table. The setup is a cozy fast food style table and chair arrangement.
There was a large quantity of al dente vegetables with authentic tasting noodles in a lightly salted broth, not like the instant noodle sodium bombs.
Very satisfying and a repeat.”
“On June 16, 2021, my mom, husband, and I decided to treat ourselves to dinner at Izakaya Miyo after a long, stressful year. It's a prix fixe menu ($99 per person at the time). I highly recommend this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or just to treat yourself. Chef Louis Pauole is very warm and friendly and explains each dish to you. This is not just a meal, but it is a memorable experience for the senses. Every dish is both beautiful and delicious! Standing ovation!”
“I went to the Hilo location with my mother last night and was treated in a very racist and disgusting manner by the FOH staff. There were many empty tables yet the host avoided talking to us for a half hour. Then when I asked one of the waiters if we can sit at one of the open tables he said, "He cant let us do that" Then when I finally was able to talk to the host. He said it would be a 40 min wait for food. Ok I get it, the kitchen is swamped. So I say can we just sit right there pointing at the table he just cleaned. He says "no". Keep in mind there were at least four more empty tables. So we decided to leave. On the way out the thought comes into my mind, that he is going to seat the people who walked in behind us. So I tell my mother to wait a second and I go back in to look and there goes the host immediately seating these people bringing them water and menus. So I head back in and ask him "Whats going on here? Can I talk to a manager?" He tells me there are no managers. Then the waiter at the bar who said he couldnt do anything to let us sit down, says "I am the manager" So they lied to my face. Then I go to the bartender she barely bothers to tall to me and says "we are all managers" and that then tries to defend this discriminatory behavior by saying they are not being prejudiced against us. Yet the people behind us are chilling and going over their menus. and here we are not able to even talk to a manager never the less receive service at this racist establishment. We were systemically blocked from sitting. Then some manager esque fellow comes out trying to do damage control after all of this ongoing nonsense. To little to late. Im not going to eat spit burger with some bigot lougies in it. Mind you both my 76 year old mother have hosted various business meet ups there over the yeara bringing them business supporting Ola Brew and they treat us like this. Do not support businesses like this in Hilo. black people of Hilo be aware. This place will treat you second class. Over priced too, for the worst kind of service. dont do it, dont eat there.”
“I especially like the ground Beef. makes a yummy anything, not all watered down, and tastes fresh too!”
Takeout Restaurants
“Hilo iced coffee was one of our favorites places to grab coffee when in Hilo. We drove all the way from pepeekeo every day so we could have all those amazing options. My hubby and I each got a coffee and a matcha to share. We made sure we tried something different every time, usually staff recommended, just to see what were a “go” or a “no.” Honestly, every thing we ordered exceeded our expectations. “Honey girl” was a clear winner for us, the mix of Mac nut milk and honey, chef’s kiss- 10/10. And if you’re not feeling something too sweet, their namesake “Hilo iced coffee” hit the spot- 9/10. We also tried their black sesame coffee and matcha, both were 10/10. We had the chance to also try the strawberry matcha and while I can see the hype for strawberry matches are real, the strawberry Puree was a wee too sweet for us, still very good- 8/10. We will be sure to stop by every time we go Hilo!”
“This place is a sleeping giant. The entire party thought the food fabulous. Twenty years ago I wrote restaurant reviews. This place deserves lots of good attention and vibes. I loved the food. I had the shrimp papaya salad. Yum! Can't show a picture. I just have an empty plate.”
“Mahalo nui au i nā wāhine o ka Papa'a Palaoa Bakery ma Hilo, Hawai'i. They assisted me in providing a whole lilikoi pie to bring home to San Francisco. They fully wrapped the box in plastic to keep the pie protected, so I could then place it in an insulated bag and surround the box with frozen ice packs. The pie (as well as a cinnamon roll) made it back home just as "hou" (fresh) as when I purchased it, me ka pilikia ole (with no problems), and the pie tastes 'ono loa. I am very grateful for their assistance, and especially their kindness. I highly recommend this bakery to everyone who wants fresh baked goods, but most of all, I am very grateful to the Aloha given by their employees. Mahalo nui loa!!”
“Food 4/5 - Ordered a sakura boat and unagi don. The sashimi/nigiri in the sakura boat was high quality and fresh, as the texture was soft with no hints of being frozen. The roll was good, nothing to write home about. Unagi don was good, although slices for the unagi were on the thinner side. Miso soup was nice and hot.
Service 3/5 - Service is average, they did make a round to refill our drinks.
Atmosphere 4/5 - Interior is good with Japanese themed decor.
Overall - Had a pleasant experience and would visit again.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“Lots of seating indoors. Bahn MI was perfection! We tried the regular and the shrimp. Both were superb. The combo Pho was everything I'd want. Tender meat, flavorful borth, fresh veg. Dumplings were okay fried. I think they would be better the way they're usually served - steamed or boiled. Banana lumpias were delicious. Portion sizes are great for the price.”
“I have consistently had positive experiences here, and it has long been one of my favorite spots on the island. Until this evening, I would not have had any negative feedback to share. Despite my experience tonight, I won’t rate this business poorly because I believe in the business, have always had great experiences with other staff members, and wish the owner success!
It was my first time being served by Sarah and while her attentiveness decreased as the bar became busier, we still received assistance from another server and ultimately had a good overall dining experience. We settled our tab in full and left a 20% tip.
As we were leaving, Sarah called out across the bar asking whether we had paid our tab. Her tone felt accusatory, and the question was asked loudly enough for other patrons to hear. Because we had already paid, the public nature of the question felt embarrassing and uncomfortable. A more discreet or private approach would have been more appropriate.
I briefly returned to provide my name, as I am not someone who would leave without paying. When I expressed how the situation made us feel, the response given was that “people walk out on their tabs all the time.” While that may be true, it did not address the concern about how the situation was handled.
As trans people of color, experiences like this can feel especially charged. Regardless of intent, the interaction left us feeling singled out and embarrassed. My hope is that in the future, situations like this are handled more discreetly and thoughtfully.”
“Great food at a great price! Wailoa Grill is a small local grill with outside protected seating. We shared their grilled salmon platter, opting for their asian flavored slaw vs macaroni and boy are we glad we did. As you might be able to see rhe portion was enough for two. We'll definitely be back before leaving! This is a hidden gem of a place! 🥰”
“I went to the Hilo location with my mother last night and was treated in a very racist and disgusting manner by the FOH staff. There were many empty tables yet the host avoided talking to us for a half hour. Then when I asked one of the waiters if we can sit at one of the open tables he said, "He cant let us do that" Then when I finally was able to talk to the host. He said it would be a 40 min wait for food. Ok I get it, the kitchen is swamped. So I say can we just sit right there pointing at the table he just cleaned. He says "no". Keep in mind there were at least four more empty tables. So we decided to leave. On the way out the thought comes into my mind, that he is going to seat the people who walked in behind us. So I tell my mother to wait a second and I go back in to look and there goes the host immediately seating these people bringing them water and menus. So I head back in and ask him "Whats going on here? Can I talk to a manager?" He tells me there are no managers. Then the waiter at the bar who said he couldnt do anything to let us sit down, says "I am the manager" So they lied to my face. Then I go to the bartender she barely bothers to tall to me and says "we are all managers" and that then tries to defend this discriminatory behavior by saying they are not being prejudiced against us. Yet the people behind us are chilling and going over their menus. and here we are not able to even talk to a manager never the less receive service at this racist establishment. We were systemically blocked from sitting. Then some manager esque fellow comes out trying to do damage control after all of this ongoing nonsense. To little to late. Im not going to eat spit burger with some bigot lougies in it. Mind you both my 76 year old mother have hosted various business meet ups there over the yeara bringing them business supporting Ola Brew and they treat us like this. Do not support businesses like this in Hilo. black people of Hilo be aware. This place will treat you second class. Over priced too, for the worst kind of service. dont do it, dont eat there.”
“I ate here at least once a week when I lived in Hilo. The chicken pho is some of the best I've ever had (including my travels to Vietnam). Also, the sate noodle soup is insanely flavorful.
Could use more ambience. But the delicious food and friendly staff more than make up for any shortcomings in the decor department.”
“I’m a lover of hamburger steak and have tried the hamburger steak at every restaurant and drive-in in Hilo. The Liko Lehua hamburger steak is absolutely the best tasting. The secret to a good hamburger steak is the gravy and their gravy is rich, tasty and homemade. No instant or canned gravy here. It also helps that their hamburger patties are hand made. Kudos to the chef and staff at Liko Lehua.”
“We had the pork lemongrass banh mi and the daily special banh mi, which was a sweet and spicy sausage that is a local favorite. Both were delicious and so flavorful. Employees all so friendly here and a lovely area to enjoy a quick outdoor bite. May get to share a picnic table with some new friends or take a picnic blanket or chairs and sit in park like setting behind the food trucks.”
“Had lunch here 2/3 days that we were in Hilo, everything was amazing. The Misoyaki Butterfish Salad was fresh and extremely flavorful without being heavy, and the fish melts like butter in your mouth. We also had a cold water scallop special, an eggplant /marinara/pesto/ricotta appetizer (forgot what it's called, oops!) and crab cakes. Everything was great, honestly one of the best places I've eaten at on the entire island. I like to sit at the bar, as I'm a former long time bartender. Sascha is one of the best around, cocktails were, again, among the best that I found on the island, including Kona. Service was top notch, no matter how busy he got, and he took extra time to modify one of the house cocktails so that an elderly gal with sensitive teeth sitting nearby could enjoy it. I would honestly make the drive from Waikoloa just for this, but Hilo has plenty of outdoor activities to offer as well.”
Cheap Eats
“What a hidden gem on Banyan drive! The place looks very low key and unassuming, but serves great fruit ice cream bars of various flavors, all made with real fruits. The staff members are super friendly and even gave us fancy ice to keep our bars frozen. For anyone who visits there, make sure to order their malt milk shake, which for some reason isnt listed on the menu. If the fruit pops were 8/10, the malt milk shake would be 11/10. Yes it is that good!”
“Two locals were here during out visit letting us know this was the place to be for shaved ice. The keiki was very good sized. Don't miss the specials on the board in the back, they are special for a reason. We ordered 8 different combos. All were so good, the coconut add on for $1 is totally worth it, though opt out if you want a less rich and more refreshing version. The lady at the counter was the kindest lady with a pleasant genuine smile that never flinched while the 8 of us lined up calling out our 24 flavors and toppings. She made the whole experience that much nicer and all for under $40.”
“I must be perfectly honest with everyone. I've been inside Hilo Lunch Shop but i have not eaten their food. However, if you like local food, you'll love this place. I've, never heard a negative thing about this place except they might run out of certain favorites if you don't get there early enough.
My fiance was picking up food for her work and I went with her. There was a long line which moved quickly. I observed those waiting in line as well as the staff. EVERYBODY in the establishment were upbeat and there was just a positive vibe flowing throughout. I could tell the customers were eagerly anticipating and being excited about getting there favorite dishes. Totally cool vibe in there. Im going back to get what I missed out on. Check it out”
“Super patient staff, answered questions and gave samples as 8 of us tried to order for the first time. The portions were huge as stated. A keiki is plenty for an adult. The sno cap is coconut cream topping. All so reasonable. It is worth the drive from Kona just to come here for the experience...but there is a half mile waterfall hike close by to start your day. I tried tons of flavors off all the orders...all good. But I couldn't resist the coconut and chocolate macadamia ice cream.”
“Breakfast/lunch spot. Kawamoto was closed so we found this place nearby. I'm glad that we discovered this place as well. Since it was our first time, I asked the server to pick whatever for us and she took her time and listed each item and explained what it was. We went later in the day so it wasn't as fresh but still very delicious.”
“I love fresh pasta and now there's a wonderful pasta shop in Hilo! I stopped in and picked up a package of FRESH Kabocha and Nutmeg Pasta, homemade Pesto, homemade Garlic Butter and Foccashia Bread. What an amazing dinner my wife Miriam and I had! The first of many... Mahalo Kai(n) - Kai Cuisine!”
“Ngon-hợp vệ sinh& tiếp đón khách nhiệt tình!”
“I love the bento at H and K. I feel it is one of the best bento available. The staff are always friendly and helpful.
I have ordered up to 75 for a function I was holding. They were ready when I got there and everyone loved them. I didn't have to deal with buying plates or utensils, I knew there would be enough for the latecomers without worrying about portion control. H and K are my go to for catering and I have never been disappointed.
Plus my kids love it. *Mic drop*”
“Our group lives on the coast so we are no stranger to fish and chips. We all agreed it was some of the best fish and chips we ever had. Tasty, crispy, fresh, and filling.”
“Drinks and everything we got were soo delicious!! Husband got the chinese fish which is the snapper as of right now and I got the pan seared duck. Also got the soup of the day which is the potato soup and got a sushi roll. Will definitely be back here if we ever come back to The Big Island!”
“My husband and I had breakfast here and let me tell ya, we wont go anywhere else now. The service and staff were amazing super friendly and the atmosphere was so clean and homey. The food was just as we ordered it hot and lots of flavor. I have no complaints on anything what so ever but I would highly recommend going and trying it yourself if you haven't yet. You wont be disappointed.”
“Really tasty dinner. Got the curry, brown rice, and cashew chicken. Felt like they were really watered down which also kept the flavors from being as strong which was disappointing because I did appreciated the spice.
Also asked for hot and felt it was more of a mild. Worth going to nonetheless”
“One of my favorite boba, tea, coffee, uniqie ice blended drinks on Big Island. The staff is great to work with. Best place to go especially after a hot day of activities or if you need a pick me upper.”
“Moved To Mountain View North Kulani Road ''Paradise Gardens'' Cold Country in 1999 Ate At Leungs Often , Ordering ''Take Out'' Best Chop Suey In Hilo By Far !!!!!”
Latest Reviews
Most Popular Restaurants
“This place is amazing! The buns are fresh and handmade, the burgers are made from extremely good meat, and the on tap beer selection is vast. If it's a nice day, don't miss out on the outside seating. The place has a lot of character but everything is well cleaned and maintained.”
“Antics ROCKS! Artwork throughout. Scrumptious pizza. My favorites are the slices, which are perfect for solitary diners stopping in for lunch or dinner but unable to take a whole pizza home for later. But they also offer carryout and dine-in for whole pizzas. And birthday-party/graduation/ho'olaulea (celebrations) accommodations. Staff are superb, checking to make sure you're doing okay. And kids adore the games (free, with purchase). Amazing Antics opened DURING the pandemic & has succeeded so well! One of my favorite places to eat, especially because slices are quick & fit within my limited budget. Well-done, Antics ownership, staff, leaders and lenders! 💚”
“We went as a huge family group and they quickly put together some tables for us! The food is very tasty (please note that Indian food has not been a favorite of mine in the past) and I felt like the portions were big, so I am excited to eat the rest later today. You can choose mild, medium, or hot on most dishes.”
“Lots of seating indoors. Bahn MI was perfection! We tried the regular and the shrimp. Both were superb. The combo Pho was everything I'd want. Tender meat, flavorful borth, fresh veg. Dumplings were okay fried. I think they would be better the way they're usually served - steamed or boiled. Banana lumpias were delicious. Portion sizes are great for the price.”
“Even if you are not around this area, definitely worth it to drive there to enjoy their menu. Portion was great and price was fair. I am back to my country,,,,
oh I miss that soft serve acai bowl so much. Can’t find anywhere else.
PS. Order large size of bowl. No matter who you are, you will want more.”
New Restaurants
“Yummmy! My partner and I are so excited Nicky’s is here and to have a new great place to stop on the way to work that meets both our needs. We had the donuts, breakfast sandwich, and espresso. All were fantastic! As a barista myself and a bit picky over my coffee I was happily surprised with the quality. We will be back!! ✨🌸”
“Okay used to be Rattana’s Thai Kitchen and the sign is still outside. It’s now Oy’s. Just the Thai hospitality makes me feel right at home. There is a sit down area inside that I heard opened a week ago, where I had my lunch. The Pad Thai with tofu was awesome; just the right flavors popping out here and there out of the noodles. The tofu was fresh. Even the drinking water was set on the table with a fresh lemon and herb and a straw which I didn’t use and returned. I am coming back for sure to visit Oy’s. Was asked as in traditions Thai restaurants do I like spicey. Not a big menu , just food done right, fresh, tasty and made to order. Khap Khun Krap. PS the order portion was huge !!!”
“Wow! Loved this! Beautiful atmosphere, excellent service and really delicious food!”